First look / initial review of the Western mountaineering Antelope MF cold weather sleeping bag. This thing is insane lofty! By far the best piece of down gear I have ever had my hands on (excluding feathered friends and ive seen a lot).
The bag is rated to +5 degrees F but for me I can easily see myself pushing this to -10 with base layers. I like backpacking quilts for warmer weather +30F but anything under that a well designed sleeping bag is much warmer for the weight.
Sure there are lighter 0 degree options out there, and ive tried many, including quilts and quilts hybrids. For the same temperature rating they simply are not as warm. That means in order to hit the 0 degree range you need a heavier -10 degree quilt. Plus a VERY good hood system. Oh, did I mention pad straps? Yeah, by the time you add it all together the weight is about the same or even more in some cases.
A quality sleeping bag like the western mountaineering, and other bags that actually fit your body shape, are also warmer than a lower rated quilt, simply due to its design. Square, non deferentially cut quilts/bags are not as thermally efficient as a bag that is contoured to the body shape. A square quilt does not fit your body!
Single sided loft is not the only metric in determining a sleeping bag / quilts warmth. Baffle design, shape, size , all play a part in keeping the down in place where it is most effective. Also keeping the warm air in, utilizing sufficient draft tubes also plays a huge roll.
The western mountaineering Antelope is just better than the rest when I comes to baffle design, shape, and loft in a controlled environment. Well see how it performs in the real world. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for watching!
Ive com to these conclusions based on my experience with a lot of different companies down products. Marmot, feathered friends, zpacks, hammock gear, jacks r better, Nemo, REI are all brands I have tried. Some of them I still own, some ive reverend for a refund, some ive sold. Im not an experience and these are my opinions based on my own experiences. Your milage may vary. Thanks!
I paid for this with my own money and doing this review on my own accord. Im exercising my rights under the constitution. And invoking my 1st, 4th, and 5th amendment rights by posting this video. I am exercising my right to protest and do not need government permission to do so. This is in response to coppa laws that are unconstitutional.
